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derness, those comforts to her declining age, which not only cheered it, but undoubtedly prolonged its date.

I think and talk of you frequently, though our mutual avocations estrange our pens from each other; and never does your idea present itself to my mind, unaccompanied by the warmest wishes for the restoration of your health: but your friend, Mr. Barber, from whom I learned last week your recent loss, could not afford me satisfaction on that interesting theme.

It is in pursuit of health that I have travelled thus far. The excursion has shown me some engaging characters, amidst the large mass of folly, vanity, and pride, which are continually exhibiting their withering effect upon the social pleasures. Some of the sweetest of those pleasures, which I have tasted since I left home, arose from my renewed intercourse with the Westella family, unbeheld through so many years. I passed three delightful days on my way hither, where formerly many an animated week had, at different periods, speeded away.

Miss Sykes is a very charming woman, elegant and graceful in her form and address. By the best chosen studies, she has assiduously cultivated her naturally fine talents; and her benevolent virtues have the most active energy. In her native village, she has established two charity schools, to which she constantly attends like a ministering angel; nor can any thing exceed the sweetness of her filial duties and attentions to her admirable parents, I am sure you will be glad to hear that the fair and gentle girl, whom you used so kindly to play with, during the time she was my pupil, is become so bright a pattern of female excellence.

* Married, in 1796, to Henry Thornton, esq.

My long-valued friend, Mr. Dewes, is here, with his brother and sister Granville: but he is lamentably out of health; nor does his disease yield, as we hoped, to the effects of sea-air. Heaven restore him; and comfort you under the regrets of deprivation!

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Mansfield Woodhouse, Sept. 19, 1796.

I thank God for the hitherto safe course of a journey that now bends homewards. Ever welcome is that consciousness; for pleasant are my domestic bowers, and dear are the friends whose society gilds them. Yesterday evening, by six o'clock, I arrived at Woodhouse, the village of acknowledged beauty; and I was welcomed with all that energetic affection, which has ever marked good Mrs. Mompesson's attachment to me.

When I arose, at seven this morning, the sun was veiled in heavy, autumnal mists. By eight, they rolled away; and the orb looked out in golden beauty. I hastened to ascend the steep, little lawn, that immediately rises from the low-roofed, but pleasant old mansion, and at whose top commences the pretty shrubbery which winds, as I have before described to you, round a field of about two acres.

I passed ten days very agreeably at Chesterfield, with my friends, doctor and Mrs. Stokes. On Saturday, Mr. Jebb, cousin of the present sir Richard Jebb, and of the late amiable, and distinguished Dr. John Jebb, took Mrs. Jebb, Mrs. Stokes, and myself, in his carriage, to pay an interesting visit to his father; who resides in a

little Eden of his own creation, about two miles from Chesterfield. Every tree of the woods that curtain his swelling hill, was planted by his own hands. He re tired from business to this rural abode, about fifty years ago.

If this venerable gentleman live till February twelve. month, he will have completed his century; and if he live till February three years, he will have lived in three centuries. He is the greatest wonder of intelligence so nearly centennial, that perhaps has ever existed in modern times; for he has no chimeras in his brain, and his memory is perfectly sound, not only concerning long past, but very recent transactions. It is within the last year only, that his limbs are become too feeble to allow him to walk further than across the room. His teeth are all gone, and their desertion has impaired his utterance a little; but he is not defective either in sight, or hearing, in any marked degree.

I cannot express with what an awed tenderness I was affected, when this very reverend personage rose, with mild grace, to receive me. He is a perfect. Nestor in eloquence. "Madam," said he, "I am glad to see you. I remember your father a sprightly bachelor. I travelled from London with him, when he went to take possession of the living of Eyam. He was a lovely man; of a fine person, and of a frank, communicative spirit. Soon after that period, he married a beautiful young lady, your mother, madam.-Mr. Seward, as you know, had travelled; and he spoke admirably of the customs and manners of foreign nations." I wept with pleasure at this testimony of respect to my father's memory, from a character thus venerable.

He indulged my inquiries after the habits of a life

protracted to uncommon length, and singularly illuminated by the duration of the mental powers. "Madam," said he, “I was not naturally a strong man. I was so feeble till sixteen, that my mother despaired of my arriving at manhood. The virulent disorder that fled about me, settled in my hand about that period; and obliged me to suffer the amputation of my forefinger. After that time, I had no violent disease; but I was never strong, never enjoyed robust health. Nor was I, at any time, guilty of excesses; I neither eat nor drank immoderately; I abstained from meat suppers; I went. early to rest, and rose early; I was seldom out of my bed at ten in the evening, or in it after five in the fine seasons, or after seven in the winter; and I dined at two o'clock. I am glad I was not born in this strange, unnatural period, in which all the great and wealthy, and most of the middle ranks of life, like their own ways better than God's ways; exhaust themselves by sitting up, and revelling, through the night, and enervate themselves by late, and some by noontide slumberings. Madam, they shut their eyes upon the flush and resplendence of the day; rob their bodies of the strengthening power of the early and fresh gales, and their minds of the pleasure of watching the joyous comforts, which the fresh and bright hours diffuse upon the animal world, that act under instinct. It was always my delight to see the busy birds, with gay industry, collecting food for themselves and for their young; to hearken to their songs, and to the lowings of the cattle, at early day; and to imagine them hymns to God of thankfulness and praise."

Thus did this old man of ninety eight, pour, on my charmed ear, though in the tremulous and piping tones

of second, personal childhood, the blended oratory of an elevated imagination, and of a feeling and pious heart!

He told me also, that it had been his annual custom, till this year, that he thought himself too infirm for the attempt, to take a summer's journey either to Matlock, Buxton, Cheltenham, or some of the coasts. "Last year, madam," continued he, "on the twenty first of August, I set off for Scarborough; and there I breathed the sea-air, during twenty days. I always thought those journeys renovated my aged body; and the sea-air re vived me last year."

I asked after the quantity and nature of his liquor. "When I grew very old, the physicians ordered me three glasses of white wine after dinner, and three after sup per; but, of late years, I have drunk only two after dinner, and not any after supper."-" By a physician's order, sir, did you lessen the quantity of wine at so advanced a period of life?""Yes, madam; by that of a very able physician,-Dr. Experience."

O! that it would please God so to lengthen your days, my friend,

"To age, thus melting in scarce felt decay,

Gliding in modest innocence away !"

I am convinced, that the sensibility and piety of your heart would administer similar cordials of grateful and happy sympathy, with the felicity which results to in stinctive creation from the bounties of its Maker; and surely such cordials are highly propitious to the vital powers. The exhilaration which they inspire, strengthens while it stimulates. No baneful lassitude succeeds. But I fear you will never have resolution to acquire the

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